Zion Williamson scores 27 points, Pelicans beat West-leading Timberwolves 117-106
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Zion Williamson scored 27 points and the New Orleans Pelicans kept rolling with a 117-106 victory over the West-leading Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
CJ McCollum added 24 points and Brandon Ingram had 19. The Pelicans pulled away in the second half for their fourth straight victory and ninth in 12 games.
On the second night of a back-to-back after beating Brooklyn 112-85, a game that allowed Williamson and Ingram to both play under 30 minutes, New Orleans went on the road and shot 55.6% from the field. Williamson and Ingram combined to shoot 18 of 26.
“We've all been locked in and connected on the defensive end, and that leads to a lot of better things on the offensive end; transition points and just the movement of the ball,” Williamson said. “So, when me, CJ and B.I. do get in our iso, we've got more space.”
Anthony Edwards scored 35 points for Minnesota, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 22. Minnesota dropped to 14-2 at home and lost consecutive games for the first time this season. The Timberwolves were the last team in the NBA to lose two in a row.
The Timberwolves shot just 38.7% through three quarters. They finished with 13 turnovers, leading to 16 points for the Pelicans. Edwards had six turnovers and Towns shot 8 of 19 from the field, including 0 of 4 from 3-point territory.
“It’s on us because the coaches do a great job bringing the game plan and making sure we’re prepared,” Edwards said. “And the rest of it is on us. They keep asking us to play hard, and they shouldn’t have to say it. We got to figure it out.”
New Orleans used a 25-9 run late in the first half to take control and extended the lead to 24 midway through the third quarter.
“I give that credit to B.I., especially at the end of the second quarter,” Williamson said. “He made that separation. He was just getting to it. And then in the third quarter, that energy continued with the whole team.”
A night after complaining about Williamson not getting a foul called on a shot attempt, Pelicans coach Willie Green received a technical foul and sprinted nearly the length of the court after a drive by Williamson. There was no penalty called and Minnesota received the ball as officials ruled it went off Williamson’s leg.
“I saw him get fouled, that's the difference,” Green said about the play Wednesday. “I couldn't see it last night, but tonight I saw it and it was clear.”
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
Timberwolves: At Houston on Friday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jonas Valanciunas vs. Rudy Gobert (CJ McCollum gains possession) | ||
| 11:35 |  | CJ McCollum misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 11:33 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 11:20 | | Rudy Gobert misses two point cutting finger roll layup | ||
| 11:19 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 11:11 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point finger roll layup | ||
| 11:08 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 11:02 | | Rudy Gobert shooting foul (Zion Williamson draws the foul) | ||
| 11:02 | | Zion Williamson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 11:02 | | Pelicans offensive rebound | ||
| 11:02 | | +1 | Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 1-0 |
| 10:42 | | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point jump shot (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 1-3 |
| 10:24 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point pullup jump shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 3-3 |
| 10:05 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:04 | | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | Jonas Valanciunas shooting foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 10:02 | | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-4 |
| 10:02 | | Rudy Gobert misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 10:00 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | CJ McCollum misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:43 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 9:28 | | +2 | Mike Conley makes two point floating jump shot (Jaden McDaniels assists) | 3-6 |
| 9:12 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point pullup jump shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 5-6 |
| 9:00 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:59 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 8:47 | | Karl-Anthony Towns personal foul (Zion Williamson draws the foul) | ||
| 8:42 | | +2 | Zion Williamson makes two point reverse layup (Brandon Ingram assists) | 7-6 |
| 8:15 | | +2 | Mike Conley makes two point floating jump shot | 7-8 |
| 8:03 | | +3 | Herbert Jones makes three point jump shot (CJ McCollum assists) | 10-8 |
| 7:44 | | Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:41 | | Zion Williamson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:34 | | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point driving reverse layup | 12-8 |
| 7:19 | | Mike Conley misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:15 | | Zion Williamson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:08 | | Jaden McDaniels shooting foul (Zion Williamson draws the foul) | ||
| 7:08 | | +1 | Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-8 |
| 7:08 | | +1 | Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-8 |
| 6:52 | | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Mike Conley assists) | 14-10 |
| 6:26 | | +2 | Zion Williamson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 16-10 |
| 6:11 | | Zion Williamson personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 6:11 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:58 | | Mike Conley misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:55 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 5:50 | | CJ McCollum turnover (bad pass) (Mike Conley steals) | ||
| 5:50 | | CJ McCollum personal foul (Jaden McDaniels draws the foul) | ||
| 5:50 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 16-11 |
| 5:40 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point floating jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 16-13 |
| 5:23 | | Jonas Valanciunas misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:20 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 5:08 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 5:05 | | Naji Marshall defensive rebound | ||
| 5:01 | | Brandon Ingram misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 4:57 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 4:50 | | Rudy Gobert offensive foul (Charge) (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | ||
| 4:50 | | Rudy Gobert turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 4:34 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 18-13 |
| 4:22 | | Naz Reid turnover (lost ball) (Herbert Jones steals) | ||
| 4:19 | | +2 | Herbert Jones makes two point running layup | 20-13 |
| 3:57 | | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point driving layup (Anthony Edwards assists) | 20-15 |
| 3:46 | | +2 | Naji Marshall makes two point floating jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 22-15 |
| 3:26 | | +3 | Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 22-18 |
| 3:17 | | Jose Alvarado turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 3:05 | | Naz Reid misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 3:00 | | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 2:51 | | Naji Marshall misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 2:47 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 2:38 | | Kyle Anderson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 2:37 | | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 2:27 | | Pelicans 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:19 | | Naji Marshall misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:17 | | Larry Nance Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 2:14 | | Jaden McDaniels blocks Jordan Hawkins's three point jump shot | ||
| 2:12 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 2:08 | | Naz Reid misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 2:06 | | Kyle Anderson offensive rebound | ||
| 2:05 | | Jose Alvarado shooting foul (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | ||
| 2:05 | | Kyle Anderson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:05 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 2:05 | | +1 | Kyle Anderson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-19 |
| 1:41 | | Pelicans turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 1:20 | | +2 | Jordan McLaughlin makes two point driving finger roll layup (Anthony Edwards assists) | 22-21 |
| 0:59 | | +2 | Zion Williamson makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Jose Alvarado assists) | 24-21 |
| 0:39 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving layup (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 24-23 |
| 0:39 | | Naji Marshall shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | ||
| 0:39 | | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 24-24 |
| 0:32 | | +3 | Jose Alvarado makes three point jump shot (Zion Williamson assists) | 27-24 |
| 0:14 | | Anthony Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Naji Marshall steals) | ||
| 0:03 | | Zion Williamson turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Edwards steals) | ||
| 0:00 | | Jordan McLaughlin misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:45 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:42 | | Zion Williamson defensive rebound | ||
| 11:35 | | Jose Alvarado misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:31 | | Dyson Daniels offensive rebound | ||
| 11:26 | | +2 | Zion Williamson makes two point driving finger roll layup (Dyson Daniels assists) | 29-24 |
| 11:08 | | Naz Reid misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 11:05 | | CJ McCollum defensive rebound | ||
| 11:00 | | CJ McCollum turnover (lost ball) (Jordan McLaughlin steals) | ||
| 10:55 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:52 | | Jose Alvarado defensive rebound | ||
| 10:39 | | CJ McCollum misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:38 | | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:25 | | CJ McCollum blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point driving layup | ||
| 10:25 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point turnaround jump shot (Jordan McLaughlin assists) | 29-26 |
| 10:22 | | Jose Alvarado personal foul (Loose ball) (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 10:22 | | +1 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-27 |
| 10:06 | | +3 | Jose Alvarado makes three point jump shot (Zion Williamson assists) | 32-27 |
| 9:47 | | Kyle Anderson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 9:45 | | CJ McCollum defensive rebound | ||
| 9:36 | | Naz Reid blocks Larry Nance Jr.'s two point hook shot | ||
| 9:32 | | Jordan McLaughlin defensive rebound | ||
| 9:20 | | +3 | Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Jordan McLaughlin assists) | 32-30 |
| 8:58 | | Zion Williamson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:56 | | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:37 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point hook shot | 32-32 |
| 8:24 | | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point pullup jump shot | 34-32 |
| 8:02 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 7:58 | | Larry Nance Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:48 | | +2 | CJ McCollum makes two point driving floating jump shot | 36-32 |
| 7:31 | | Jordan McLaughlin misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:29 | | Pelicans defensive rebound | ||
| 7:20 | | Herbert Jones offensive foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 7:20 | | Herbert Jones turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:59 | | Jaden McDaniels misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:56 | | Dyson Daniels defensive rebound | ||
| 6:53 | | Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Dyson Daniels draws the foul) | ||
| 6:53 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:53 | | +1 | Dyson Daniels makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-32 |
| 6:53 | | +1 | Dyson Daniels makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-32 |
| 6:39 | | CJ McCollum personal foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 6:25 | | Timberwolves turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 6:04 | | Brandon Ingram misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:02 | | Pelicans offensive rebound | ||
| 6:00 | | Herbert Jones turnover (bad pass) (Jaden McDaniels steals) | ||
| 5:58 | | Jose Alvarado blocks Jaden McDaniels's two point running layup | ||
| 5:57 | | Pelicans defensive rebound | ||
| 5:49 | | Jose Alvarado misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:45 | | Jonas Valanciunas offensive rebound | ||
| 5:35 | | +2 | Jonas Valanciunas makes two point jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 40-32 |
| 5:26 | | Jonas Valanciunas personal foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 5:17 | | +3 | Jaden McDaniels makes three point jump shot (Mike Conley assists) | 40-35 |
| 4:52 | | +3 | Herbert Jones makes three point jump shot (Jonas Valanciunas assists) | 43-35 |
| 4:35 | | Anthony Edwards turnover (lost ball) (Dyson Daniels steals) | ||
| 4:30 | | +2 | Jose Alvarado makes two point running layup | 45-35 |
| 4:30 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:09 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:07 | | Brandon Ingram defensive rebound | ||
| 3:58 | | +2 | Brandon Ingram makes two point pullup jump shot | 47-35 |
| 3:39 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving reverse layup (Mike Conley assists) | 47-37 |
| 3:25 | | Rudy Gobert shooting foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | ||
| 3:25 | | +1 | Brandon Ingram makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 48-37 |
| 3:25 | | +1 | Brandon Ingram makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 49-37 |
| 3:04 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving layup | ||
| 3:02 | | Jonas Valanciunas defensive rebound | ||
| 3:02 | | Anthony Edwards technical foul | ||
| 3:02 | | Brandon Ingram misses technical free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 3:02 | | Pelicans offensive rebound | ||
| 2:50 | | Jaden McDaniels shooting foul (Brandon Ingram draws the foul) | ||
| 2:50 | | +1 | Brandon Ingram makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 50-37 |
| 2:50 | | +1 | Brandon Ingram makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 51-37 |
| 2:27 | | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point driving finger roll layup | 51-39 |
| 2:16 | | +3 | Brandon Ingram makes three point pullup jump shot | 54-39 |
| 1:51 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Mike Conley assists) | 54-41 |
| 1:38 | | +3 | Herbert Jones makes three point jump shot (Brandon Ingram assists) | 57-41 |
| 1:24 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:21 | | Herbert Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 1:06 | | Herbert Jones misses two point layup | ||
| 1:04 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 1:00 | | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point running jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 57-44 |
| 0:53 | | Naz Reid blocks Zion Williamson's two point driving layup | ||
| 0:53 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 0:53 | | Willie Green technical foul | ||
| 0:53 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 57-45 |
| 0:29 | | Timberwolves turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 0:10 | | +2 | Zion Williamson makes two point driving finger roll layup (Brandon Ingram assists) | 59-45 |
| 0:04 | | Herbert Jones shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | ||
| 0:04 | | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 59-46 |
| 0:04 | | Anthony Edwards misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 0:02 | | Herbert Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |